Maine food stamp enrollment plunges below 200,000
posted at 8:01 pm on October 14, 2015 by Kristina Ribali
Maine’s Governor Paul LePage has been on a crusade to reform his state’s welfare program and reduce resident dependence on government assistance. New numbers indicate that these reforms have been working.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services said that “tougher requirements for welfare along with a drop in unemployment have led to more Mainers supporting themselves.” The number of the state’s citizens on the food stamp program has plunged to below 200,000, which, according to the governor is “the lowest number of people on taxpayer-funded, welfare food stamps in six years.”
Governor LePage took to Facebook to trumpet the news saying, “According to federal statistics at Federal Nutrition Service (FNS), Maine ranked first in the nation for its reduction in food stamp dependency in 2014.”
This comes on the heels of a push to remove Mainers without dependents from the welfare rolls if they have more than $5,000 including “bank account balances, snowmobiles, boats, motorcycles, jet skis, all-terrain vehicles, recreational vehicles, campers and other valuable assets.”
Governor LePage has insisted that this is a key test to insure that “Welfare is a last resort, not a way of life.”
On Facebook the governor also noted that the drop in unemployment was also a factor in the lower number of food stamp recipients, as “Maine’s unemployment rate has dropped from a recession-high 8.3 percent in July 2009 to 4.5 percent in August 2015, falling a full percentage point since December 2014 alone – just after Governor LePage was re-elected.”
Proof of real success, “Maine ranked first in the nation for its reduction in food stamp dependency in 2014,” according to federal statistics at Federal Nutrition Service (FNS), said the Governor.
And the good news should be getting even better as Maine continues enforcement of the new asset test policy.
States looking for an example of how welfare reform can help lift citizens out of the government poverty trap and up the income ladder, while also trimming the state budget should look to Maine.
_____________________________________
Kristina Ribali is the Senior Coalitions Director for the Foundation for Government Accountability. Follow Kristina on Twitter or reach her via email at [email protected]
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Keeping out the democrat base.
WryTrvllr on October 14, 2015 at 8:05 PM
Prior recipients flew to California for a raise?
TimBuk3 on October 14, 2015 at 8:05 PM
Republican….or Demorat?…Govenor
JugEarsButtHurt on October 14, 2015 at 8:06 PM
let Americans starve so that we can have more money to start useless wars in the middle east.
weedisgood on October 14, 2015 at 8:07 PM
It’s Maine.
See Susan Collins/Olympia Snowe.
It’s Maine. They’re not really sure.
BigWyo on October 14, 2015 at 8:10 PM
it needed to be done up here, one concern I have though is with 2 adult household only one vehicle allowed.
republican
dmacleo on October 14, 2015 at 8:12 PM
“A hungry dog runs faster.” Translated to dumbfu(kees just for you..
‘Get a job’.
BigWyo on October 14, 2015 at 8:12 PM
…puff harder…brainless basement boob!
JugEarsButtHurt on October 14, 2015 at 8:13 PM
You folks have no idea how many people I see roll up driving very expensive vehicles – bmw, mercedes, cadillac, infinity….some with expensive custom rims..
To go for our free “community care” clinic across the street from where I work.
celt on October 14, 2015 at 8:16 PM
If you have assets such as listed, you don’t have to “starve”…go to work instead of playing…and the money doesn’t go to wars anymore in case you haven’t noticed…it goes to slackers with snow mobiles, etc. who want to eat lobster and play. Fool.
NJ Red on October 14, 2015 at 8:17 PM
Uh yeah ’cause state funds are like totally used for that.
Puff puff give Smokey your effing up the rotation.
Kataklysmic on October 14, 2015 at 8:19 PM
Extremist!! /
Yankee Doodle on October 14, 2015 at 8:20 PM
Success for the right looks like having fewer people on food stamps, so that the program is stronger for those who truly need the help.
Success for the left looks like increasing the number of people on food stamps, completely ignoring what that says about their situation or the economy as a whole, or what that means for the fiscal solvency of the program in the future for those that need it most.
Which vision looks more sane? It’s supposed to be a “safety net” after all.
Excellent117 on October 14, 2015 at 8:21 PM
Sadly the abuses with this program have ruined it. Unless you are a party of S, (formerly party of D), politician. Then you rejoice for the bountiful supply of moochers and looters to sustain you. These criminal abuses should be stopped. Hence they won’t be. Lazy.
Bmore on October 14, 2015 at 8:21 PM
Also insane and unlikely to get re-elected.
Tlaloc on October 14, 2015 at 8:24 PM
Is anyone suing the state for getting in their business? Sound like great and successful program.
Cindy Munford on October 14, 2015 at 8:27 PM
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/23000.html
equanimous on October 14, 2015 at 8:27 PM
no sh*t.
this is his second consecutive term so he cannot run again until 2022 elections.
idiot.
dmacleo on October 14, 2015 at 8:28 PM
You mean the governor who was just re-elected?
rob verdi on October 14, 2015 at 8:28 PM
Why, do you think the majority of the citizens of the state would preer to be on welfare or gainfully employed?
Cindy Munford on October 14, 2015 at 8:28 PM
My one and only quibble – exclude mobile/trailer homes from the asset list.
Big whup – in the face of the election likely boiling down to the Clown Prince versus the Hag, his achievements won’t mean that much in the long haul, admirable as they are. One
dictatexecutive order by either Obama or Hillary and he’s right back to square one.LawfulGood on October 14, 2015 at 8:28 PM
OT
BLM
CWforFreedom on October 14, 2015 at 8:29 PM
Tialoc is just not bright. Too funny.
CWforFreedom on October 14, 2015 at 8:30 PM
Nobody is starving if they have these kind of assets.
Why should taxpayers pay welfare to someone with an RV in the driveway?
JohnK144 on October 14, 2015 at 8:31 PM
let Americans starve so that we can have more money to start useless wars in the middle east.
leadpaintchipsisgood on October 14, 2015 at 8:07 PM
Im sure they are planning to dump a bunch of ” refugees ” somewhere in Maine soon
Mr Soames on October 14, 2015 at 8:31 PM
They’re all driving to Minnesota to join the herds flowing up from Chicago every month.
I know I know, it’s perfectly normal to see scads of cars carrying Illinois plates parked throughout the Twin Cities once a month.
Bishop on October 14, 2015 at 8:36 PM
Tlaloc also agrees with the dear departed lostfatherland that Cruz got elected due to gerrymandering.
Bishop on October 14, 2015 at 8:38 PM
Can a state legislate a ban on social assistance to non-citizens?
Rix on October 14, 2015 at 8:38 PM
I think an asset means test is perfectly acceptable. I just got stuck behind a family of three at the grocery store check-out. Mom, and the two boys – middle school aged – we’re all busy on their iPhone 5s. The cashier shook her head as she rang me up. Seems the mom paid with an EBT card. I’m sick of this crap.
Hill60 on October 14, 2015 at 8:42 PM
The trillions wasted in Iraq could feed Americans many times over.
I prefer to spend money on Americans than Muslims in a foreign land.
weedisgood on October 14, 2015 at 8:52 PM
You’ve never even seen anyone hungry let alone starving.
Oldnuke on October 14, 2015 at 8:57 PM
The trillions wasted in Iraq could feed Americans many times over.
I prefer to spend money on Americans than Muslims in a foreign land.
weedisgood on October 14, 2015 at 8:52 PM
maybe you leftist traitors shouldn’t have done everything in their power to ensure that waste
effing miserable scum
Mr Soames on October 14, 2015 at 8:57 PM
Quick logic test Weedy: Do you think that maybe they are off food stamps and unemployment is lower because they got a job or that unemployment is lower because the people thrown off of food stamps starved to death and are not counted as unemployed?
(Hint: If it was the later, the progressive left media would be holding a 24 hour non-stop death watch in the state.)
KW64 on October 14, 2015 at 8:58 PM
Mainers really sounds kind of lame. It would be much more fun if we could call them ‘Mainiacs’.
trigon on October 14, 2015 at 8:59 PM
Why don’t you fork over all that money you waste on weed and buy food for some poor starving American then?
Oldnuke on October 14, 2015 at 8:59 PM
Love this guy.
Cleombrotus on October 14, 2015 at 9:01 PM
You’re absolutely wrong. LePage is a bulldog. He’s a Republican. Worked his way up from homelessness at age 12 to running one of the state’s most beloved businesses, then mayor, then governor. He won in the “red wave” in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014. In 2010 he squeaked by because the Maine Democrats like to run two candidates in every race, one official “D” and one democrat posing as “Independent”… I never believed he’d win re-election, but I guess results talk!
LePage really ought to be running for President. He’s got the toughness of a Sheriff Arpaio, the candid way of speaking of Donald Trump, and the record of political success in “hostile territory” of a Walker or Jindal.
joe_doufu on October 14, 2015 at 9:01 PM
Why are peopl so stupid that they can’t feed themselves ? Just another benefit used to buy votes.
alanstern on October 14, 2015 at 9:03 PM
LOL
HumpBot Salvation on October 14, 2015 at 9:07 PM
Reminds me of a woman I used to play cribbage with online many years ago. She was from Maine and on the dole and I’m sure through no fault of her own, weighed in at about 400#.
tbear44 on October 14, 2015 at 9:09 PM
here
Cleombrotus on October 14, 2015 at 9:12 PM
I realize a lot of factors go into the drop and that over time different factors as pahased in or time goes by contribute to greater or lesser extents, but why in h3ll couldn’t they at least give us an idea how much a drop there was with just a few freakin’ numbers besides the 200,000 it is now?
Is that too d@mn hard for the government to do and are the media that incurious, or do they know and don’t want to tell us?
I just walk away from this story thinking one or both must be hiding something per usual.
Dusty on October 14, 2015 at 9:12 PM
and here
Cleombrotus on October 14, 2015 at 9:13 PM
While the media and the Democrats lie about “how great things are going”, the Republicans should remind them that if it weren’t for the reforms Republicans instituted (including Scott Walker’s reforms), we would be worse off today.
djaymick on October 14, 2015 at 9:15 PM
First off, what happens in Maine is never a bellwether. Never the start of a trend.
More importantly:
A ridiculous statistic at best.
Happy Nomad on October 14, 2015 at 9:15 PM
Best. Idea, Ever.
If we beef up the military/industrial complex, we can create meaningful manufacturing jobs.
Endless war = booming economy.
massrighty on October 14, 2015 at 9:21 PM
Who in the hell cares if they start a trend? At least they are trying to fix their state. Some people are never happy….
Barred on October 14, 2015 at 9:35 PM
It seems to me, LePage also got that passed. Any Mainers here who can testify?
Puma for Life on October 14, 2015 at 9:44 PM
To think I wasn’t even going to look back at this thread in the rear view mirror. Happy I did. Lolz!!!
Bmore on October 14, 2015 at 9:48 PM
Lolz! Thanks for the laugh Bishop, good memory! ; )
Bmore on October 14, 2015 at 9:50 PM
…does it hurt you?
JugEarsButtHurt on October 14, 2015 at 9:56 PM
Portland already houses a huge Somalian refugee population. They are everywhere all over the city, specially…
Defenestratus on October 14, 2015 at 10:23 PM
Under 200,000.
Think about this: there are only a little over a million people in the state.
About 1,330,000.
Do the math.
Cleombrotus on October 14, 2015 at 10:23 PM
Don’t forget Lewiston.
Cleombrotus on October 14, 2015 at 10:25 PM
Haven’t been there yet. We’re thinking of moving to Falmouth but everyone of these moonbat towns passes stupid physic shopping bag bans and therefore fails my “do crazy people live here ?” test…
Defenestratus on October 14, 2015 at 10:32 PM
Physic =plastic.
On mobile…
Defenestratus on October 14, 2015 at 10:33 PM
Because the drop is insignificant. Based on the announcement, it appears the numbers are just back to baseline before the recession (“lowest number of people…in six years”).
cam2 on October 15, 2015 at 12:00 AM
No need to starve… let them enlist.
malclave on October 15, 2015 at 12:18 AM
Maine is unlikely to declare war on the Middle East.
Chuck Schick on October 15, 2015 at 12:51 AM
I love how reduced dependence on government makes you people lash out. You need help, IMHO.
Chuck Schick on October 15, 2015 at 12:53 AM
It’s Maine: you have to hang around and see which bathroom the Governor uses…
landlines on October 15, 2015 at 2:18 AM
Guessing this demographic of Maine answers a lot questions:
White percent, 2014 → 93.8%
Compare to nationwide →62.1%
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/23000.html
albill on October 15, 2015 at 6:16 AM
In case you forgot, the “we” in this context is a Democrat demiurge who has been there for 7 years… As loyal a worshipper as you, of all people, aren’t saying he is *starting useless wars*…. Are you? Does the governor of Maine get to start wars abroad, now, whether or not they be useless?
Dirty Creature on October 15, 2015 at 7:00 AM
15%.
Not bad. It’s 47% in Zero’s America as a whole, isn’t it?
Dirty Creature on October 15, 2015 at 7:52 AM
LOL.
If unrestrained welfare spending was the key to peace in the middle east, we’d have unicorns and rainbows busting out all over.
Seven years of Obama’s trillion-dollar spending sprees, record-high levels of food stamps, SSDI, AFDC, etc., combined with total U.S. capitulation to the Taliban, the Iranian mullahs, Putin, Assad, etc. — and peace in the middle east is . . . .
AZCoyote on October 15, 2015 at 8:31 AM
Apparently it would be even lower… Approximately half of the 200,000 but Maine has been involved in importing 3rd world muslims who do view western countries welfare as as way of life… Over 90% participation rate no matter how long they have been here
Caseoftheblues on October 15, 2015 at 9:30 AM
Us folks from NH do indeed lovingly call our friends to the east – Mainiacs, and we call those just to our south – Massholes and those to our west – Granola eating Birkenstock wearing Socialists.
You don’t want to know what we call those to our north ;-).
All in fun folks, all in fun.
D-fusit on October 15, 2015 at 9:50 AM
What’s your concern?
I grew up in the 70s in a one-car household and not a cent of government money. It can be done, you know.
More to the point, more than one vehicle is not a “need” or a “right” and therefore should not be funded by the government.
If one absolutely needs a vehicle for work, there are “clunkers” out there … since the ridiculous “cash for clunkers” program was mercifully ended.
The American Way used to be starting out with “clunker” cars and “starter” homes and working one’s way up without government assistance.
Which it sounds like is exactly what this Governor did.
We need more public servants with his story than those with Jeb Bush’s, Mitt Romney’s, or both my CT Senator’s (Blumenthal and Murphy, rich boys needing diversions so hey let’s get in government!) stories.
hrh40 on October 15, 2015 at 9:58 AM
What questions?
cam2 on October 15, 2015 at 10:05 AM
Make THIS guy head of Health and Human Services.
orangemtl on October 15, 2015 at 10:09 AM
Safety net.
Safety nut.
Dr. Charles G. Waugh on October 15, 2015 at 10:26 AM
BWAHAHAHA! The average welfare user is hardly starving. In fact many of them are so obese they have to use scooters at Walmart to push their carts loaded with junk food to the registers to use their EBT cards. Stereotype? Well, when you see it regularly with your own eyes, it tends to verify that stereotype.
Also, why do you support your wicked witch harpy who voted to start “useless wars in the middle east”? And what do you have to say about Obama’s failures after getting involved in Syria?
Or don’t you notice the hypocrisy in your weed addled state?
dominigan on October 15, 2015 at 10:58 AM
If you’ll check the Bangor Daily News, you’ll discover that LePage devours minority babies raw. And that’s in the news coverage.
Not that I would ever accuse the BDN of bias….
PersonFromPorlock on October 15, 2015 at 11:37 AM
Maybe not trend starters, but they just became Constitutional Carry state #7.
dentarthurdent on October 15, 2015 at 11:51 AM
Well, back home there in Maine, after my old Aunt Bessy turned 90, she went down to the town clerk to change her voter registration from Republican to Democrat. The town clerk asked her why she would do that now, having been a Republican her whole life. Aunt Bessy said, “well now that I turned 90, I figure I don’t have much time left. So I figured if someone has to die, I’d rather it be one of them instead of one of us.”
dentarthurdent on October 15, 2015 at 11:57 AM
Maybe he can run for Senate and keep that seat R.
timoric on October 15, 2015 at 3:24 PM